In op-ed, Klein and Carlucci push ethics reform

In an op-ed in Wednesday’s Journal News, two members of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Committee pushed their plan for reshaping the state’s campaign finance laws and implementing tougher corruption measures.

Senate Independent Democratic Leader Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, and Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, said their conference’s proposal has the “potential to transform New York’s political system.” Among the planks of the broad plan are a publicly funded campaign finance system that would match small donations at a 6-to-1 rate and a bevy of changes to contribution limits, including the elimination of corporate campaign donations.

If New Yorkers needed one more reason to support major ethics and campaign finance reform in Albany, this past week gave them several. The recent scandals that have rocked our state’s political world have cast a cloud over the integrity and fairness of our political system. The apparent corruption that has ensnared public officials throughout the state, with some of the alleged wrongdoers residing in Rockland County, hits very close to home.

Now is the time to act swiftly so that we can restore accountability and transparency at the ballot box. This afternoon, we will host a public hearing in Rockland County to solicit ideas and expert testimony from some of the foremost leaders in campaign finance and ethics reform. Most notably, this will be a venue for members of the public to make their voices heard.

In addition, we are proposing several reforms to our state’s campaign finance and ethics laws.

The IDC is hosting a hearing on the issue at 3 p.m. at the Valley Cottage Library in Rockland County.